Toy building-block



(No Model.)

A. R. WALTERS.

TOY BUILDING BLOCKS. No. 262,863. Patented Aug. 15, 1882,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAM R. WALTERS, OF ATKINSON, ILLINOIS.

TOY BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,863, dated August15, 1882. Application filed June 20, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A. R. WALTERS, of Atkinson, in the county of Henryand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Building-Blocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it'pertains tomake and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs,which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in toy building-blocks and itconsists in making the blocks of flat metal plates which are providedwith hooks and eyes, so as to be secured together, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to produce a building-block which can haveletters of the alphabet, portions of a building, or any other suitabledesign cast or stamped as a part thereof, or painted upon them, andwhich are provided with suitable means for securing them together, andwhich, when taken apart, will occupy but very small space.

Figure 1 represents blocks with different designs marked upon them. Fig.2 is a perspective of two of the blocks unitedtogether, taken from theirinner sides. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the blocks, taken fromits inner side. Fig. 4 is a perspective of two of the blocks unitedtogether at right angles to each other.

A represents one of the blocks, which is made of a. flat metallic plate,and which may be either cast, stamped, or otherwise formed, or made fromany suitable material which will not be easilybroken. Upon these blockswill be stamped, painted, or otherwise marked letters of the alphabet,windows, doors, or other parts of a house, or any other designs whichmay be preferred. Each one of these blocks has formed upon its top edgethe hook B, which is intended to catch in the hole 0, which is madethrough the ear D on the bottom of the next adjoining plate. Also formedupon the same corner of the block as the hook B, and which corner is cutaway, as shown, is the hook E, which is intended to catch in the hole Fof the next adjoining block when the blocks are connected together atright angles to each other. This corner is cut away, as shown, so thatthe perforated ears or projections G will fit therein when the blocksare fastened together at an angle to eachother. This perforated ear Gserves for the hook E to catch in when the blocks are secured togetherin a line with each other. On thelower cornerof the block, on the sameside as the hook, is formed a suitable projection, I, which, when theblocks are put together in a line with each other, passes through theear J, which is formed upon the edge of the next adjoining block. Whenthe blocks are puttogether at right angles this ear J fits in the recessL, which is made in the edge of the block, and the projection J thenpasses through the hole 0, which is made through the block just back ofthe ear. Where portions of a house are formed upon each one of theblocks, houses ofdifferentforms and designs may be built, with eitherfiat or slanting roofs, and figures ot'difterent kinds formed. Whereletters of the alphabet are stamped upon them, four of the plates can besecured together, so as to form a hollow square and many other figures.

These blocks being made flat and of some material which is not easilybroken, the blocks do not take up so much room, can be used for a largenumber of purposes which ordinary building-blocks are unfit for, andconsequent- 1y will afford much more amusement than the ordinary solidblocks will.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A toy building-blockcomposed of a flat plate having the two hooks formed upon one of itscorners, projections I, and suitable ears and perforations, whereby theplates can be attached together, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ABRAM R. WALTERS.

Witnesses:

JAMES S. DUTRO, PAUL D. RANSOM.

